A Lesson in Survival (Rich and Arsen)

"Okay, okay pup it is." He mock sulked. "I can't wait for that. So what do i get to call you?" He smiled looking up to Rich waiting for his response.

"Aw poor horsey." He smiled. "You look french." He smiled dodging out the way in case he hit him.

"I don't know i've been stuck in my room all my life this is all new to me. Especially your nose thing i don't know what you can do." He sulked turning to face away from Rich and folding his arms before letting the smiled return to his face.

"No don't blackmail me please." He begged turning back round to face Rich. "I'm not good with blackmail, i panic then i explode." He smiled. "Do you want me to blow things up?" He smirked.

"Good i might have to kill you if one of the other students hear of this. I have a rep to up hold and i cant have you ruining it." He smiled ticking his tongue out.

"Okay so crush and sniff for quicker effects, got it." He smiled looking down at the pill. He could not wait to use it although he would rather not get attacked right now.

Richard shrugged a little,

"Hell if I know." he stuck his tongue out at Arsen, "Call me whatever you want. Eva calls me Tricky Dick. Cobalt calls me 'The Specialist'. And Briony... well Briony calls me 'god' a lot. Mainly because she's going 'oh god, oh god' when with me."

He smirked a little at possibly mentally scarring his apprentice before flicking one of his practice knives in Arsen's direction, which he dodged, at the idea that he might be French,

"I'm German god damn it!" he growled a little, "The only thing worse than being called French to a German is to be called Russian."

Richard chuckled,

"Oh boohoo, so you don't have an awesome nose." he stuck his tongue out at his apprentice, "You'll get one if you ask Cobie nicely enough, I'm sure."

He shrugged a little, a small smile tugging at his lips,

"Wouldn't bother me." he smirked, "The caretaker has to clean up after all. But alright... no blackmail. For now."

Richard looked thoughtful for a minute before ruffling Arsen's hair affectionately,

"Hey Arsen..." he paused and turned serious for a second, "I've got a question for you. You see... I'm asking Briony to marry me. And if she says yes I'll need a best man..."

He grinned a little,

"What do you say pup? Want to be my best man?"

"Hmm let me think about it." He smiled he needed a good name and fast. He thought about it for a while but couldn't think of anything just yet. "Let me get back to you on that one." He smirked.

"Oh god it's so bad i can't burn, right now i need to burn my brain. That was a little too much information." He said covering his ears with his hand and turning around on the spot.

"Woah it was a joke, if i knew you were into throwing knives at your apprentices i wouldn't have said it." He smirked turning to look over at the fallen knife. "I'm sorry for that okay." He smiled holding his hands up in surrender. "But the whole god thing was more of a punishment than the knife to be honest." He squirmed in disgust. "Ugh metal image i really didn't need."

He glared at Rich. "Yeah well let's hope he does then i can use it against you too. But i suppose you'll smell of Professor Blake all the time." He smiled.

"Thanks." He smiled kicking a stone across the forest. "That will do... for now." He smirked he stood still as he ruffled his hair, why did grown up always do that it was a good job he didn't spend all his time sorting it out.

Arsen turned back round to look at his master. "Yeah?" He asked his eyebrows frowning. He waited for him to finish before his eye became wide open. "What? M, me?" He stuttered he could not believe what he had just heard, his heart was practically jumping out his chest.

"Wait. Are you sure i mean, why me?" He asked then realised he'd not answered. "I mean of course i would, wow best man." He laughed looking down at his ring, his father would never have believed this. But now he had no idea what to do did he hug him, shake hands he was sure he should do something.

Richard smirked a little,

"I'll remind you of that comment if you over step the mark again." he grinned, "I think I can imitate her voice as well if you want."

"Same as you reeek of Charlotte." he teased right back, sticking his tongue out at Arsen, "Besides... better than smelling who everyone else is with."

He laughed brightly at the boy's flustering. It had been exactly as he'd thought. He grinned and patted Arsen on the shoulder,

"Of course you!" he smirked, "Cobie's a bit too hostile, Hades is probably going to kill me as it is and you're my apprentice! I have to trust you and this is an expression of that trust."

"No just stick to the knives okay, please. I refuse to beg." He said folding his arms across his chest and turned to face the other way, just turning to stick his tongue out at him.

He shrugged holding back a smile. "I like how she smells... wait how do i smell?" He asked turning to look back at his master wondering what everyone smelt like.

"Do people ever smell the same?" He asked wondering if it was even possible for there to be that many different smells out there.

"Wow..." He smiled. "I've never felt like this before, it's like im dreaming." He smiled then frowned. "I'm not dreaming right?" He asked looking around the forest waiting for the gun man to show.

"I thought you and Cobalt hated each other?" He smiled then laughed. "Yeah Hades would just love to be your best man." He smirked then stopped his laughter to look serious again. "Well you can trust me i wont let you down, well not on purpose anyway." He smiled.

Richard clicked his tongue in mock annoyance,

"Well that's no fun." he grinned, "Scarring you mentally is much more fun!"

He shrugged a little,

"You smell like burning." he raised an eyebrow, "You're fire in human form Arsen... how exactly did you think you were going to smell?"

Rolling his eyes, Richard snorted a little,

"Of course not." he smiled a little, "Everyone smells different because no one goes through the same thing. I mean Hades smells of burning as well but he also smells of decay for some strange reason, almost like death. Briony smells of a light fruit, a berry if I'd have to guess, mixed with an earthy, oaky, scent. Hell I'm the only guy I know of who can change his scent at will."

Noting how Arsen seemed to be watching for something when he asked if he was dreaming, Richard raised an eyebrow,

"No you're not dreaming. I can prove it." he smirked a little before pinching Arsen's arm, "If that hurt you're awake."

Richard frowned a little and looked out into the forest for awhile before replying,

"Cobalt and I... well we used to be friends. Quite good friends." he rubbed tiredly at his eyes, "We became friends at a time in our lives when niether of us felt we could trust anyone. We trusted each other. And I will stand up and say that I betrayed his trust. But I would do it again. I could never stand by and watch a little girl die."

He shook his head and adopted a jokey air about himself again,

"Well then pup, don't screw up. Simple." he gave the boy an impulsive hug with one arm before patting him on the head, "Now let's get back to the castle. It's almost lunch time and I need something to eat other than spider leg."

"I don't need anymore mental scarring thanks." He smiled spitting out his tongue.

"Oh yeah why did i not think of that." He laughed of course he smelled of fire he was surrounded by it day and night.

He smiled at Hades smell it fit so well, but only he and Draco knew why, Hades didn't tend to brag about his powers and he could control them enough to keep them secret unlike himself.

"Ouch." He smiled holding his arm where he pinched him. "Yeah that hurt. Now that is assault." He smirked sticking out his tongue.

"I can't imagine you two being friends it just seems like you were born enemies. What happened? To the girl you saved i mean?" He asked looking up to his master once more keen to find out.

"That's easier said than done Professor." He smiled then froze for a few seconds as Rich hugged him, he was not used to it. "Ugh that is gross why did you have to remind me i've just gotten that out my head. Now im not going to be able to eat anything now." He frowned lightly punching Rich in the arm. "That was for pinching me." He smiled spitting his tongue out at him than ran so he couldn't get him back.